Episode 20: Civility is Overrated! Confronting Warmongers with Medea Benjamin

In the Context of Empire

Jon and Matt were honored to be joined by Medea Benjamin, long time peace activist and author. Medea is the co founder of the women led peace organization, Code Pink. She has has authored books including, Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection. Medea's writing also appears regularly in the outlets, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, CommonDreams, Alternet, and The Hill.

Specifically discussed:

- Medeas background and motivations for antiwar activism

- Why civility and decency are overrated! Code Pink has a propensity for up close (verbal) confrontations with war criminals like Henry Kissinger, John McCain and Elliot Abrams. The groups often confronts them at their offices, congressional hearings and even their houses!

- Why to defending Palestinian rights IS NOT antisemitic

- Why sanctions are a form of war that are as, if not more deadly than conventional warfare

- Concerns about Joe Biden and his cabinet

- Why we should NOT view the female picks for running the war machine as a feminist victory

- Why we need to be skeptical of the way that claims of human rights abuses are weaponized by the war machine

- Advice for for getting involved in antiwar activism

Some of Media Benjamin and Code Pink's Work: Please Support Her Activism!

Medea and Code Pink attempt an arrest of Henry Kissinger.. John McCain was not amused

Medea confronts Barack Obama over drones and Guantanamo

Support Code Pink and their work here

Code Pink's Campaign to prevent Michelle Flournoy's nomination

Check Out Her Books:Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, Inside Iran and Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection

Our Work:

Read our "In the Context of Empire" blog with corresponding and expanded posts to this content!

Social Media: Twitter- @Mattylongruns.

*Editor's note. About a third of the way into the episode, Jon lost internet temporarily and we had to switch recording devices. There is a slight difference in sound for the last 2/3rd's